The D.C. Restaurants We’re Loving Right Now

If you’re craving Filipino comfort food with a fun twist…

… Purple Patch is it. I took my family for brunch and ended up ordering dinner favorites, too, because honestly, how can you not? It never disappoints.

We came for their traditional Filipino breakfast, which comes with your choice of marinated meat (you can’t go wrong with any of their options — I love the tapsilog, aka soy garlic beef), sinangag (garlic rice) and a runny egg. It’s so delicious and nostalgic. The kids were all about the ube pancakes, and not just for their eye-catching purple color — their sweet, earthy flavor had us ordering more for the whole table. And I also had to try the ube mojito, which was slightly sweet but super refreshing, and the perfect pairing to balance out our rich dishes. Overall, from ube ice cream to halo-halo, everything felt like a comforting slice of home.

— Carissa Tyson, Senior Issue Resolution Specialist

Chef Cedric Maupillier has redefined the meaning…

… of D.C. power lunch. His menu at Barbouzard carries a French accent recently introduced along K Street for both the swift business set and the more leisurely-minded midday diner. Either way, the menu reads like a momentary escape to the south of France. Highlights include bouillabaisse Marseillaise, ratatouille Parmigiana, and grilled octopus, alongside a signature Wagyu cheeseburger with fries. A selection of housemade desserts — from date pudding with halva ice cream to a hazelnut praliné — offer a sweet finish.

— Tim Ebner, D.C. Writer, Resy Editorial

Can’t stop thinking about the explosion of textures…

… that was the crispy coconut rice salad at Sense of Thai. It had such punchy, bright flavors, and made my mouth water as I was eating it. The Chiang Mai noodles were also a favorite, with the noodles soaking up the rich, flavorful curry broth, and the pickled mustard greens and red onions helping to cut through the richness, so each bite was new and different.

— Aggie Chin, Regional Manager, D.C.

Whatever the time of year…

… I can’t resist L’Ardente for their soft serve, a staple on their dessert menu. The vanilla is the creamiest and sweetest in town, and on my last visit, the summer seasonal was a sunset-hued mango-passionfruit, a refreshingly tart and floral creation. Since no one could ever choose between these two flavors, I always get the swirl, which is almost too pretty to eat. Almost. The current end-of-summer flavor is strawberry-basil, and I can’t wait to see what they put out in the fall.

Pro tip: If you are feeling adventurous, go for the sundae option, where the swirl is topped with jam and granola. It’s as wild as it sounds.

— Priya Konings, D.C. Writer, Resy Editorial

Everything was stunning…

… at Yellow Cafe. I love the chocolate halawa pain Suisse — not only is it beautiful, the contrasting textures are to die for. On the savory side, their pitas are all delicious, and the Georgetown location has rotating specials. They had a lamb al pastor that was one of my recent favorites, complete with pineapple and flavorful charred bits. Their falafel is the standard in my book now. Pro tip: Get a side of falafel as a little car snack if you’re getting food to go.

— Aggie Chin, Regional Manager, D.C.

With impeccable service, a beautiful space…

… and delicious food, Dōgon is a must. I enjoyed the charbroiled oysters, followed by the hoe crab, and the coco bread with malted sorghum butter — each dish tasted so unique. And a major shoutout to our bartender for recommending the rum cake for dessert; it did not disappoint!

— Sara Carpenter, Issue Resolution Specialist

I tried a vegetarian tasting menu….

… at Ceibo and I still can’t stop thinking about it. Once a week, during what they dub “Tasting Menu Tuesdays,” the restaurant only serves a seasonal five-course dinner. And on one special Tuesday this summer, the tasting menu’s theme was “Frutas y Verduras,” an entirely vegetarian tasting menu of the best summer produce our region has to offer.

The dishes only got better as the tasting progressed: tiny tartlets filled with a savory mousse and dotted with nuts; succulent watermelon crudo; a rich, melt-in-your-mouth broccoli panna cotta; hearts of palm and grilled avocado served with a tart, bright tomato gazpacho; grilled and meaty lion’s mane mushrooms served with sweet yams; and for the finale, a sublime strawberry pavlova. The stream of delightful surprises from the team at Ceibo, led by brothers Juan and Manuel Olivera, made the evening unforgettable. Fingers crossed for another “Frutas y Verduras” tasting menu in the fall.

— Priya Konings, D.C. Writer, Resy Editorial

More D.C. staff picks, right this way.

The views expressed in this article reflect personal experiences of American Express employees at the applicable restaurants — not American Express — and do not constitute professional business advice.